About the Declaration
The Shared Values Framework on Ethical Finance
The Shared Values Framework (SVF) is the core output of the Declaration. Launched in 2018, the document is the product of a collaboration between the Islamic Finance Council (UK), the Church of Scotland and GEFI, and outlines 6 key shared values between the Christian and Muslim faiths.
Practical Applications in the Finance and Investment Industries
Launched at Ethical Finance 2019, the Practical Applications document provides analysis and commentary on the Shared Values Framework, to enhance its relevance for financial practitioners.
Reception to the project
Reception to the project from faith leaders and finance professionals around the world has been positive, following presentations at events including a Vatican conference on finance, Islamic finance conferences, and secular ethical finance conferences.
Videos
A number of videos highlighting aspects of the Declaration have been produced, including a series from the Canary Wharf Multifaith Chaplaincy.
Development of the Declaration
The Declaration was developed over a period of collaboration and consultation that began in 2013, taking shape in 2016 and launching the Shared Valued Framework in 2018.
Get Involved
The Declaration is intended to be a living document, updated as more faith practitioners and finance professionals contribute to it. We welcome input on the project from those of any faith or none.
About the Declaration
The Shared Values Framework on Ethical Finance
The Shared Values Framework (SVF) is the core output of the Declaration. Launched in 2018, the document is the product of a collaboration between the Islamic Finance Council (UK), the Church of Scotland and GEFI, and outlines 6 key shared values between the Christian and Muslim faiths.
Practical Applications in the Finance and Investment Industries
Launched at Ethical Finance 2019, the Practical Applications document provides analysis and commentary on the Shared Values Framework, to enhance its relevance for financial practitioners.
Reception to the project
Reception to the project from faith leaders and finance professionals around the world has been positive, following presentations at events including a Vatican conference on finance, Islamic finance conferences, and secular ethical finance conferences.
Videos
A number of videos highlighting aspects of the Declaration have been produced, including a series from the Canary Wharf Multifaith Chaplaincy.
Development of the Declaration
The Declaration was developed over a period of collaboration and consultation that began in 2013, taking shape in 2016 and launching the Shared Valued Framework in 2018.
Get Involved
The Declaration is intended to be a living document, updated as more faith practitioners and finance professionals contribute to it. We welcome input on the project from those of any faith or none.
Shared Values Framework for Ethical Finance
On the 22nd March 2016, the Church of Scotland and the Islamic Finance Council UK signed a partnership agreement to co-develop an ethical finance solution open to all society, regardless of race, religion or ethnic background and based on the shared values between the faith traditions. As part of this agreement a series of workshops were initiated to identify and crystalise the shared values and this draft has been compiled based on feedback from the earlier workshops.
Together, Islam and Christianity represent over half of the world’s population. They are influential in informing not only the value systems in countries where they constitute the majority of the population, but also in shaping the wider moral landscape within which the rest of the people on the planet live their lives.
In 2018, The Church of Scotland and the Islamic Finance Council UK (UKIFC) officially launched an interfaith shared values framework on ethical finance. You can download the summary of the framework here.
Practical Applications in the Finance and Investment Industries
At Ethical Finance 2019, UKIFC and Church of Scotland launched a “Practical Applications in Finance and Investment Industries” report to be read in conjunction with the EFD. The report provides analysis and commentary on the issues raised in the EFD and seeks to contribute to thinking on the propositions it puts forward.
The six shared values contained in the Declaration are considered in greater details within the context of financial services. The intent is to identify potential application of the EFD to the secular financial and investment industries in practical terms, shine a light on common purposes and values, and inform financial professionals on their journey through cultural change towards a fulfilling career.
Activities
Canary Wharf Multifaith Chaplaincy Video Series on the EFD
1 – Stewardship
2 – Love of the Neighbour
3 – Human Flourishing
4 – Sustainability & Purposefulness
5 – Justice & Equity
6 – Common Good
Background
In 2013, the UKIFC held a round table with the Archbishop of Canterbury along with leaders from across the faiths to explore shared values towards ethical finance.
After three years of positive dialogue, in March 2016 UKIFC and the Church of Scotland announced a pioneering initiative to work collaboratively to produce an interfaith shared values framework that could underpin the development of an ethical financial solution based on shared values and open to all in society, regardless of faith or ethnic background.
Collectively we share a belief that existing financial institutions have, in recent years, lost their social conscience. Following the banking crisis of 2008, further ongoing scandals of mis-selling payment protection and interest rate fixing have raised the question if reforms have worked.
We felt that something had to be done and Scotland, with its proud heritage in ethical finance that includes the origins of the savings bank movement pioneered by Rev. Henry Duncan of the Church of Scotland, was the place to do it.
The Edinburgh Declaration is the shared values framework that has been developed from the feedback received from a structured programme of engagement (including discussions, workshops and market studies) that sought input from theologians, well-informed faith-thinkers, leading finance practitioners and academics. Although driven by Islam and Presbyterian faiths, the Declaration reflects views from across the Abrahamic faiths. The Declaration will provide the guiding principles that underpin the formulation of a financial product or service.
"The shared values between the Christian, Islamic and the other Abrahamic faiths are well aligned to underpin ethical finance. Having this discussion has the ability to bring faiths together – not just here in Scotland, but across the world."
Humza Yousaf MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Justice
Background Documents
In order to identify and articulate the shared values we held four workshops/round tables bringing together global theologians, leading industry practitioners and well-informed faith-thinkers, to explore and debate faith reflections on ethical finance and economics. The documents below provide further details on each of the meetings.
